Hello everyone, I am the proud owner of a new MES 40 2.5 blue tooth capable. I finished putting it together and it is in the break in heat cycle right now. I thought I might run up to the store and grab some meat so I can get up early tomorrow and try it out. I know there is a ton of stuff on here so i will do some searching asap. Thanks in advance.

Well it has begun! I picked up some chicken thighs and a nice rump roast, rubbed them down last nite and left them in the fridge until this morning and got things started at 250 degrees for 2 hours and then dropped the temps down to 200. I used to try to keep the temp around 180 in my old smoker, is that where i should try to stay with this mes 40?

I will continue to search for some basic guidlines in this forum but it anyone wants to give me a basic idea of what and how to get this first smoke done without screwing it up or overcooking it i would appreciate it.

I have no experience with the MES smokers, so I couldn't give an answer as to the temperatures. In my WSM, I usually stay around or above 225 for almost everything except chicken. There are many others on this site that smoke using much higher temperatures than I do. It's more of a personal preference and for time management.

I've never tried a rump roast. It may be a little too lean and could dry out, if even slightly over cooked. I would give a pork butt(shoulder) a try. It's very forgiving and can turn out great using a variety of smoking methods.

In my MES I smoke chickens at 275 takes about 3 hours or so I go to IT in the breast of 165 in the thighs 175 then I put the chicken on a hot gas grill for a few minutes skin down to crisp it up. That's how I do it. Butts I do at 225 till I get to an IT of 160 or so then wrap and take it to 205

Thank you everyone, I will try some of the suggestions and report my results. I grabbed a brisket flat at wallyworld today so I am going to attempt a rub mix and let it sit for a day in the fridge. If anyone has ever had Rudys BBq in San Antonio or elsewhere and knows of a homemade rub that is like that feel free to post it....that stuff is what started me smoking and I love anything they make! Thanks again for the suggestions and keep them coming!